It is common for divorced or unmarried parents to eventually move on from their previous partner and seek out a romantic relationship with someone new. When starting a new relationship, parents will need to consider the manner in which their children will relate to their new partner. Relationships between step-parents, and step-children relationships, can be tricky to navigate, especially in the beginning stages. However, by using the tips below, a step-parent can build a healthy and loving relationship with their step-child. And over time, a step-parent may decide that legal adoption is a further step they want to take.

The Dos and Don’ts of Step-Parenting

There is no tried-and-true playbook on how to parent, whether you are a biological parent or a step-parent. However, boundaries are often one of the main issues that step-children have with their parent’s new partner. Step-kids can often feel as if their step-parent is trying to replace their biological parent, and boundary issues can arise when a step-parent tries to discipline their step-child. 

It is a fact of life that children will eventually move on and leave the house when they reach a certain age. For many families, this occurs when kids head off to college, while for others, children may remain living at home for longer. Regardless of when the kids leave, it is not uncommon for parents to feel a sense of loss and uncertainty when their children move out. 

For many couples with children, their kids can become their whole life. Mornings may involve serving breakfast and packing lunches before kids head off to school, weeknights may be focused on helping with homework, and weekends can be all about sports tournaments and other activities. However, what may seem like chores and responsibilities can be sorely missed when they disappear from your everyday schedule. When these tasks vanish, and you and your spouse have more time alone with each other, it can be beneficial for your relationship, or it may expose unresolved conflicts and difficulties, which might result in a divorce.

A parent’s worst fear is waking up one day and finding their child is gone. The only way that most parents can foresee this happening is if their child is abducted by a stranger. However, kidnapping can also be done by someone you know, including your child’s other parent. If one parent decides to move to a new location with the child without the other parent’s permission, they are kidnapping their own child. In some cases, parents may choose to move with their child without realizing that this could pose an issue, but it is important to understand that a distinct legal process must be followed in parental relocation cases.

What Is Parental Relocation?

The state of Illinois does not restrict parents from moving down the street or across town with their child, and many recently divorced parents will move from their previous residence to pursue a fresh start as a single parent. However, if a parent who has primary custody of their child, or who shares custody with the other parent, plans to move a certain distance, they must receive permission from either the other parent or from the court to ensure that both parents can continue to share in parental responsibilities and parenting time. The following situations are considered parental relocation under Illinois law:

The day that a child must become a parental figure for their own parent is not a day that anyone looks forward to. While you may not be parenting in the sense of teaching them right from wrong or watching them grow up, you may reach a time in which you need to step in because your parents or other loved ones are unfit to take care of their own affairs. Becoming your parent’s legal guardian can be a difficult task, but it may be necessary in some situations. In some cases, a legal guardian may also need to be named for a disabled person, and this kind of guardian does not have to be related to the disabled person to be named as their guardian. 

It is important to understand what this new role of being a guardian entails. There are a number of different types of guardianships, each of which allots different responsibilities to the guardian. The person a guardian provides care for is known as a ward. Depending on the level of competency of the ward, as well as their needs, the duties and responsibilities of a guardian may vary. The following are the common types of guardianships granted in Illinois:

A common fear that many divorced persons have is of now being alone forever. In some cases, this fear can cause a person to stay in a marriage much longer than they would like. However, contrary to popular belief, those who get divorced will not necessarily remain single for the rest of their lives. In fact, many divorcees take the lessons that they learned in their first marriage and put those towards a healthier and more mature relationship in the future. For some, this may mean a second marriage, while others may prefer to avoid saying “I do” a second time. Regardless of the status of your relationship, it is important to understand how bringing a new partner into your life may result in changes to your divorce agreement. 

Child Support Payments

Parents’ child support obligations are determined using a number of factors. The court will compare the amount of time that the child spends with each parent and see who will be the primary caregiver or custodial parent moving forward. The non-custodial parent is typically responsible for making child support payments to the custodial parent to ensure that children’s ongoing needs are met. In most cases, the non-custodial parent will continue to pay child support regardless of whether either parent gets remarried.